Blake Belladonna sat on the balcony of their temporary safe house, her shoulders slumped as she stared out at the horizon. Her scroll lay open on the table in front of her, a report from her father displayed on the screen. The words blurred together as her thoughts raced.

Weiss Schnee stepped onto the balcony, her presence soft but deliberate. "Blake? You've been out here for a while. Is everything okay?"

Blake sighed, her ears drooping slightly. "I just got a report from my father about Menagerie's efforts to sway people against The Hunt."

Weiss pulled up a chair and sat beside her. "How's it going?"

Blake's expression darkened. "Not well. The people are divided. Some think Cinder deserves it, and the younger generation is mostly apathetic. They don't see how it affects them, so they don't care."

Weiss frowned. "That's… terrible."

Blake nodded, her voice growing heavier. "It's complicated. In the past, when faunus were put in The Hunt, only a small percentage of humans spoke out against it. Most of Menagerie still remembers that. Now that it's a human girl's life on the line, suddenly more humans are willing to stand against it. It feels like human lives matter more than faunus lives."

Weiss's expression faltered, guilt washing over her. She looked away for a moment before speaking. "Maybe you're right."

Blake turned to her, surprised.

Weiss took a deep breath. "When I was a girl, I always knew The Hunt was wrong. My sister Winter felt the same, and we both told our father and Whitley as much. But… I never spoke out publicly. I never used my influence to condemn it."

Blake tilted her head, her amber eyes searching Weiss's face.

Weiss continued, her voice soft. "It's… messed up. The first time I spoke out publicly was when it became about Cinder—a human girl. I should have said something years ago, when it was considered just a 'faunus issue.' I should've stood with your people then."

Weiss hesitated before reaching out, placing a comforting hand on Blake's shoulder. "I'm sorry. Faunus lives matter just as much to me as human lives do. They always have, even if my actions didn't show it."

Blake's ears twitched, her expression softening. "Weiss… I appreciate that. And for what it's worth, I don't think a human deserves to suffer and die that way, even if faunus have long been treated that way."

"No one deserves that," Weiss said firmly.

Blake gave her a small, encouraging smile. "Then let's show them that together. We can help the faunus see that The Hunt is bad for everyone. Maybe if they hear it from both of us, it'll make a difference."

Weiss tilted her head. "What do you have in mind?"

Blake gestured toward her scroll. "We can record a video together. We'll condemn The Hunt—not because Cinder is human, but because it's the right thing to do. If we're united, maybe more people will listen."

Weiss's sky blue eyes lit up with determination. "I like that idea. Let's do it."

Together, they set up Blake's scroll to record, crafting a message that they hoped would resonate with people from all walks of life. As they spoke—Blake with her quiet passion and Weiss with her commanding eloquence—they found strength in each other.

When the recording ended, Blake glanced at Weiss. "Do you think it'll work?"

Weiss smiled softly. "If we believe in what we're saying, then I believe it can."

Blake nodded, her resolve strengthening. "Then let's make sure the world hears it."

...

"I'm surprised Salem hasn't discarded you yet," Raven Branwen said to Cinder Fall.

Hidden in plain sight within the Branwen camp thanks to her semblance, a mysterious woman listened as Raven and Cinder came up with a plan to use the Spring Maiden to open Haven Academy's vault so Cinder could steal the relic for Salem. The mystery woman could not allow Cinder and Raven's plan to succeed. She needed to get the relic to use it as a bargaining chip with Salem. She had also seen the video put out by Blake Belladonna and the former Schnee princess, and was worried. It seemed Cinder had some supporters among the girls from the Princess Trial. She couldn't allow them to get in the way of the plan. She needed to frame Cinder for another crime at Haven Academy. In order for it to work though, Cinder could not be at Haven Academy at the same time as her. She'd have to arrange for a little distraction for Cinder.

As for the Spring Maiden, she couldn't care less about her or her power. Why should she?

The mysterious woman was already the Summer Maiden, after all.

...

The marketplace in Mistral buzzed with life as Emerald Sustrai stood at a modest food stand, examining the skewered meats and freshly baked breads on display. She handed over a few lien to the vendor, barely glancing at him as she collected her lunch. Her mind was elsewhere—always on edge, always calculating.

Just as she turned to leave, a familiar voice cut through the crowd.

"Emerald," Cinder said, her tone low and urgent.

Emerald turned to see Cinder Fall approaching, her steps purposeful. The sight of her brought an odd mixture of relief and unease.

"Cinder?" Emerald asked, a hint of surprise in her voice. "What are you doing here? I thought you were—"

"No time to explain," Cinder interrupted, grabbing Emerald's arm. "There's been a change in plans. You need to come with me. Now."

Emerald blinked, confused. "But the airship is the other way—"

"Trust me," Cinder said firmly, pulling her along.

Emerald hesitated for a moment but followed, her instincts warning her that something wasn't right. The urgency in Cinder's voice felt… off.

The two walked in silence through the crowded market, then veered off into quieter streets. As they moved further from the bustle of the city, Emerald couldn't ignore the gnawing suspicion in her gut.

"Cinder, where are we going?" she asked, glancing around at the increasingly desolate surroundings.

Cinder didn't answer.

Emerald stopped in her tracks, yanking her arm free. "This isn't the way to the airship."

Cinder turned to face her, her expression unreadable. Before Emerald could press further, movement caught her eye.

Four figures leaped out from the bushes—two women and two men. One of the women carried a sword disguised as a parasol, twirling it with a practiced grace.

Emerald's eyes widened. "What the—"

Before she could react, the group closed in on her. A fist connected with her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She stumbled back, reaching for her weapons, but one of the men grabbed her arm while the other kicked her legs out from under her.

"Stop!" Emerald shouted, struggling against their grip. "What are you doing?!"

In a flash, one woman struck Emerald across the face with the blunt side of her parasol, sending her sprawling to the ground. One of the men yanked her weapons from her belt, tossing them aside.

Emerald tried to get up, but another blow sent her reeling. The world spun around her as pain clouded her senses.

Through the haze, she saw Cinder—or who she thought was Cinder—standing still, watching silently.

"C-Cinder… help me…" Emerald managed to gasp.

The figure smirked and began to change. The dark hair turned blonde, the familiar features morphing into those of an unfamiliar woman.

Emerald's heart sank as realization hit her. "You're not Cinder…"

Her strength gave out, and her vision faded as she collapsed into unconsciousness.